North Aberdeen Bridge open house set for March 19

By Matthew N. Wells • March 7, 2024 5:45 pm
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Matthew N. Wells / The Daily World A view from underneath the North Aberdeen Bridge, known locally as the Young Street Bridge, or the “Kurt Cobain Bridge,” for the late rock star, shows the immense gratitude fans still share for Cobain, who died in 1994, and his band Nirvana.
Matthew N. Wells / The Daily World A view from underneath the North Aberdeen Bridge, known locally as the Young Street Bridge, or the “Kurt Cobain Bridge,” for the late rock star, shows the immense gratitude fans still share for Cobain, who died in 1994, and his band Nirvana.

Discussions about the North Aberdeen Bridge continue, and soon the public will have another chance to voice their thoughts about the 67-year-old bridge’s future with an open house.

The open house is set for March 19 from 5 to 8 p.m., and will take place in the Rotary Log Pavilion — 1401 Sargent Blvd., in Aberdeen. The open house is for residents, visitors and businesses to “share your input in shaping the future of the North Aberdeen Bridge,” according to a city of Aberdeen news release about the open house.

In the fall of 2022, the city received $23.1 million in order to replace the bridge. Part of the city’s process has been community engagement. This open house is part of that process.

“The community will be able to comment on early bridge alternatives and ask questions of city staff and the project design team in an interactive environment,” the release states. “Spanish interpretation will be available at the open house.”

The city of Aberdeen has maintained that the bridge, known locally as the Young Street Bridge or “Kurt Cobain Bridge,” needs replacing and has used the term “functionally obsolete,” to describe its current condition, despite the fact more than 2,000 cars use the bridge per day.

The release explains the goals of the project team, which at the city level is headed by Kyle Fisher, engineer for the city of Aberdeen.

“The project team aims to address the aging and deteriorating bridge conditions, which will improve access, safety and traffic flow, while preserving the legacy of one of Aberdeen’s most famous icons: Kurt Cobain,” the release states.

With all the heartfelt graffitied messages to Cobain and his band Nirvana that exist underneath the bridge, city staff and Aberdeen City Council have made known they realize there is significant cultural significance attached to the bridge. The bridge also has international significance. Recently, musicians from England, Canada and South Korea came to Aberdeen specifically to see the bridge and to see Cobain’s home, which is just a couple streets over from the bridge.

The council knows many people in the area want to keep the bridge for the connection to Cobain and Nirvana. Time will tell, but for now, discussions for replacement, or an alternative to that, are still happening.

For people who cannot make the open house in person, there is an online version of the open house and an option to take an online survey, which will run from March 19 to April 19, according to the release. The link to the online open house will be available on the city’s website, which is www.aberdeenwa.gov.

Any questions and comments having to do with the project can be sent to Fisher at 360-537-3215, or emailed to him at: kfisher@aberdeenwa.gov.

Contact Reporter Matthew N. Wells at matthew.wells@thedailyworld.com.

Matthew N. Wells / The Daily World While it’s rare these days, musicians can be found playing underneath the North Aberdeen Bridge. Clinton “Dogger” Mullins is seen here jamming on his acoustic guitar in front of Tyrell Rutledge back in late spring 2023. Mullins was live-streaming his performance, which was dubbed “SAVE Kurt’s Bridge, Session #1.” A guitar case with a smattering of $1 and $5 bills lay nearby Mullins. “I had about 20 people come through here in the last hour,” Mullins said excitedly.

Matthew N. Wells / The Daily World While it’s rare these days, musicians can be found playing underneath the North Aberdeen Bridge. Clinton “Dogger” Mullins is seen here jamming on his acoustic guitar in front of Tyrell Rutledge back in late spring 2023. Mullins was live-streaming his performance, which was dubbed “SAVE Kurt’s Bridge, Session #1.” A guitar case with a smattering of $1 and $5 bills lay nearby Mullins. “I had about 20 people come through here in the last hour,” Mullins said excitedly.

The damage shown here, according to the most recent North Aberdeen Bridge reports, show delamination and spalling on a part of the bridge, also known as the Young Street Bridge, or “Kurt Cobain Bridge.” (City of Aberdeen)

The damage shown here, according to the most recent North Aberdeen Bridge reports, show delamination and spalling on a part of the bridge, also known as the Young Street Bridge, or “Kurt Cobain Bridge.” (City of Aberdeen)

Matthew N. Wells / The Daily World Maggie “survived being a teen because of (Kurt Cobain’s) art,” but will the North Aberdeen Bridge, where this message is scribed, survive in the coming years? There is much discussion about how to deal with the future of the 67-year-old bridge, which city engineers have referred to as “functionally obsolete.” More than 2,000 cars travel over it daily.

Matthew N. Wells / The Daily World Maggie “survived being a teen because of (Kurt Cobain’s) art,” but will the North Aberdeen Bridge, where this message is scribed, survive in the coming years? There is much discussion about how to deal with the future of the 67-year-old bridge, which city engineers have referred to as “functionally obsolete.” More than 2,000 cars travel over it daily.

Tim Holehouse, an English musician who the late Kurt Cobain inspired to pick up the guitar, performed in front of a small audience underneath the Young Street Bridge — officially known as North Aberdeen Bridge. In front and to Holehouse’s right is the message “RIP Kurdt,” in reference to Cobain’s death. Behind Holehouse’s head is a painting of Cobain’s face. (Matthew N. Wells / The Daily World)

Tim Holehouse, an English musician who the late Kurt Cobain inspired to pick up the guitar, performed in front of a small audience underneath the Young Street Bridge — officially known as North Aberdeen Bridge. In front and to Holehouse’s right is the message “RIP Kurdt,” in reference to Cobain’s death. Behind Holehouse’s head is a painting of Cobain’s face. (Matthew N. Wells / The Daily World)

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